Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder are big NBA betting favorites for Sunday night as they take on the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series.
The Thunder, though, have only picked up two ATS victories over their past six games against the Rockets, with Houston winning 122-119 at home as a 3-point underdog when they last met on February 20. Each of their last four matchups were OVER results.
This season the Thunder are 60-22 overall and 48-31-3 ATS against the number, while the Rockets are 45-37 and 41-40-1 ATS. (Note: follow us on Twitter for line updates and injuries news). As for the totals, Oklahoma City is 36-43-3 on the OU, and Houston is 41-41.
View Houston vs Oklahoma City Odds and Stats.
Betting Line:
Oklahoma City opened as 11-point favorites at online sportsbook Sportsbook, while the NBA total was sitting around 208.5 at Sportsbook for those who prefer OVER/UNDER betting.
Power Rankings / Prediction:
According to new Power Rankings at Odds Shark, it's the No. 1-rated Thunder and the No. 10-rated Rockets in this matchup. Predictive computer formulas point to a 112-106 win for the Thunder on Sunday.
How They Match Up:
When it comes to rebounds, the visiting Rockets rank No. 7 in the league with 43.4 per game. That compares with Oklahoma City’s No. 6 ranking in that category. The story is different when it comes to three-point shooting where Oklahoma City is the NBA’s No. 14-ranked team at 7.3 per game, while the Rockets rate No. 2 with 10.6 per contest.
Defensively, the Rockets feature the league's No. 25-rated defense on the road, giving up 103.9 points per game. Oklahoma City, meanwhile, comes in at No. 1 in the league in scoring at home.
The Rockets were a 99-95 loser in their most recent outing on the road against the Lakers. They failed to cover the 1.5-point spread as favorites, while the total score (194) made winners of UNDER bettors. James Harden was dynamite, scoring 30 points and adding 8 rebounds but Los Angeles still won, 99-95, over Houston on Wednesday at STAPLES Center.
Last time out for Oklahoma City, they were a 95-89 loser as they battled the Bucks at home. The Thunder failed to cover in the match as a 3.5-point favorite, while 184 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors. The Thunder got 23 points from Reggie Jackson, but it was Milwaukee that prevailed in a 95-89 final on Wednesday at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Houston Rockets Trends:
When playing on Sunday are 7-3
Before playing Oklahoma City are 3-7
After playing LA Lakers are 5-5
After a loss are 7-3
Oklahoma City Thunder Trends:
When playing on Sunday are 6-4
Before playing Houston are 8-2
After playing Milwaukee are 4-6
After a loss are 7-3
A few Rockets at Thunder trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston's last 6 games when playing on the road against Oklahoma City
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games when playing Oklahoma City
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston's last 7 games on the road
Houston is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games when playing Oklahoma City
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Oklahoma City's last 7 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Oklahoma City's last 6 games when playing at home against Houston
Oklahoma City is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Houston
Oklahoma City is 18-4 SU in its last 22 games at home
Next up:
Houston at Oklahoma City, Wednesday, April 24
Oklahoma City home to Houston, Wednesday, April 24
